Sunday, September 28, 2008

My Legume Love Affair & A Recipe

Come October, and I will be the month's guest host for the Fourth Helping of Susan's My Legume Love Affair. I am expecting to be inundated with entries for this popular event, so don't disappoint me, please.

Legumes must feature as the central ingredient in your entry. It could be any kind, sweet or savoury. In Susan's words, all cultures and courses are welcome.

The prize on offer from Susan is Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook. Those who aren't bloggers are also invited to send recipes/photos; you will be included in the round-up and drawing. Family and friends are not eligible for the prize. Neither Susan nor I have any connection to the author of the book or its publishers.

The Instructions

Please post a new recipe or a newly posted one from your archives, linking to this announcement, and to Susan's post here, with the following details to me [srablogATgmailDOTcom] by October 31. Please say 'MLLA Entry' in the Subject field.

Name

Name and URL of Your Recipe Post

Location: Optional

Photo: Optional (400 X 300 or 300 X 400 depending on orientation. If your image is exactly square, fine tuning the dimensions to avoid distortion is encouraged while keeping in mind the general size requirement.)

Use of the logo above, designed by Susan, is optional.

I hope to post the round-up sometime during the first week of November. If I haven't acknowledged your entry either by mail or by comment in your blog, please check with me after three days to see if I've received it.

Now here's a recipe that makes use of legumes in a very creative way - this is an aunt's recipe and substitutes quite well for coconut or other nuts that come in handy when you want to make a gravy for meat or vegetables or paneer.

It uses green gram/mung dal sprouts as the base. I've used paneer to illustrate its use but my aunt uses it with chicken.

Marinate paneer with the rest of the ingredients mentioned below it for 30 minutes.

In a pan, heat the oil. Saute the onion till it browns, add the chilli and fry it for a few seconds more.

Add the tomato and let it cook till it gets all soft - you can cover it and simmer it on a low flame.

Now add the paneer with its marinade, cover and let cook well - till the juices begin to dry up.

Now add the ground paste, mix it well and let it cook. It will begin to thicken very soon so keep adding a few teaspoons of water to let it achieve the consistency you like. The paste tends to smell a bit like batter initially so it's important to let it boil well.

Check for seasoning and remove from fire. Garnish with coriander leaves.

You can find the MLLA-Third Helping here, on Lucy's beautiful blog, Nourish Me.

Sra, the gravy looks so rich and creamy. This is a very interesting recipe - have never seen ground moong used as a curry base, definitely a healthful substitue for coconut. Can I try this recipe and send it over :D ?

Sunita, thanks, knowing you, you'll send something smashing!Uma, it does. It's my aunt's recipe.Indo, welcome, will look out for your entry. Give us something nice from Kongunad if you can, I remember you've got a few on your blog.Cham, do, it will be fun!Deesha, I will look out for your entry, thanks.Siri, yeah, my aunt, actually my great aunt, is a good cook.Sangeeth, thanks.Sig, shall I frame some more rules? {evil laugh}Anon, sure, tried and tested, why not? :-)Rachel, does it stop there or do I get an entry from you?Jayasree, pl do.Ni, sure, send me a whopper of a dish!Nidhi, do make it, there's a whole month ahead.

Nice! Hey, I have posted a recipe today with bengal gram... you think I can send that over?Check out: http://mixtomatch.blogspot.com/2008/09/crispy-lentil-fritters-healthy-masala.htmlI will send the details once I get the nod from you.

Aparna, it's just curry or kurma, I guess. I didn't call it anything, and it didn't call me any names, either! :-DHappy Cook, sure, will look out for it.Mamatha, I wondered, but couldn't be sure.Mallugirl, yes, but you'll have to re-post it, according to the rules.Rajitha, and so you are!Shyam, would love to see your entry! Divya, thanks, try to participate!Divya, send it over!Nate & Annie, we decided to post it on IMBB after the MLLA 3 round-up is done!Miri, yeah, even I was gobsmacked when my aunt told me it was sprouts!

Jaya, yes, my aunt had a real brainwave!Valli, every so often, I think of something I should have included in the post - then I tell myself to slow down, I'm guest-hosting!Sia, hmm ... devil's something, maybe? ;)Laavanya, do send it over!Susan, ah, that was a nice dish! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the event!Curry Leaf, will look forward to you turning over a new leaf with this event :)Mallika, yeah, it was tasty!

I'm very excited to participate again this month. I have my post from October all picked out so I just need to tag it with your blogs and resize my photo. I'm looking forward to sending it to you and later, seeing the recap.

Thanks a lot. This is an interesting and scrumptious recipe. At last I have found something interesting and unique to serve to my guests during the holidays. I am sure that they'll love this sprouts gravy.

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